The government has stepped up its national drought response, releasing additional resources to support an estimated 3.3 million Kenyans facing food insecurity and livelihood disruptions following poor rainfall performance in late 2025.
Speaking in Karen, Nairobi City County, on Monday, February 9, 2026, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the intervention follows a comprehensive review of the country’s food and nutrition security situation after the sub-optimal performance of the October–December 2025 short rains intensified drought conditions across several regions.
“The government has reviewed the food and nutrition security in the country following the escalating drought situation occasioned by the sub-optimal performance of the short rains in the 2025 October–December season,” Kindiki said.
He noted that the State has already mobilised additional resources to procure food and non-food items, alongside scaling up water provision, livestock feed distribution, and related emergency interventions aimed at cushioning vulnerable households and protecting livelihoods.
“More resources have been released to procure more food and non-food items for the 3.3 million people in need of support across the country, for water provision, livestock feed and other related interventions,” he added.
The Deputy President revealed that he convened a high-level meeting bringing together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and heads of relevant government agencies to assess the evolving drought situation and coordinate response measures.
“Met Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and heads of relevant agencies to review the situation, agreed on how to streamline the last-mile delivery modalities to cushion the people of Kenya and their livelihoods from the effects of drought,” Kindiki said.
The renewed intervention underscores the government’s effort to strengthen coordination, efficiency, and accountability in the distribution of relief support, particularly in drought-affected and arid regions where communities remain highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
Officials say the enhanced response will prioritise the timely delivery of food aid, improved water access, and protection of livestock-based livelihoods, while continuing to monitor weather patterns and food security indicators nationwide.
Kenya has faced recurrent drought cycles in recent years, with erratic rainfall linked to broader climate variability increasingly straining household resilience, especially in arid and semi-arid lands.
Authorities maintain that sustained investment in emergency response, climate adaptation, and livelihood protection remains critical to safeguarding vulnerable populations.
The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring no Kenyan is left behind as it intensifies measures to mitigate the humanitarian and economic impact of the ongoing drought.